Self Determimation

Where are the Jewish people today?

Map of Israel, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North Africa.

Israel is the only nation with a Jewish majority population.

Of the world's Jewish population of 15 million people, 7 million reside in Israel.

As it was for more than 1300 years, Israel is once again the center of Jewish life.

As a result of the foreign invasions, much of the Jewish people were forcibly exiled. When able, they returned to their native homeland to re-unite with their brethren.

Israel is the only majority Jewish country in the world. With less than 1% of the land in the Middle East, Israel is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Israel is 17 times more densely populated than the combined 22 Arab countries in the Middle East.

Israel has absorbed over 800,000 Jews from Arab countries, approximately 200,000 Jews from Europe, and over 1,000,000 from the former Soviet Union. The immigration to Israel was mostly due to unbearable anti-Semitic conditions.

From the time of the exile to the rebirth of Israel, the land was always under the control of foreign empires, never an independent country, and always with a Jewish presence. The last hostile empire that ruled the land was the Ottoman Empire.

Where are the Jewish people today?

Of the world's Jewish population of 15 million people, 7 million reside in Israel.

As it was for more than 1300 years, Israel is once again the center of Jewish life.

As a result of the foreign invasions, much of the Jewish people were forcibly exiled. When able, they returned to their native homeland to re-unite with their brethren.

Israel is the only majority Jewish country in the world. With less than 1% of the land in the Middle East, Israel is also one of the most densely populated countries in the world. Israel is 17 times more densely populated than the combined 22 Arab countries in the Middle East.

Israel has absorbed over 800,000 Jews from Arab countries, approximately 200,000 Jews from Europe, and over 1,000,000 from the former Soviet Union. The immigration to Israel was mostly due to unbearable anti-Semitic conditions.

From the time of the exile to the rebirth of Israel, the land was always under the control of foreign empires, never an independent country, and always with a Jewish presence. The last hostile empire that ruled the land was the Ottoman Empire.

Israel is the only nation with a Jewish majority population.

The Ottoman Empire

Please scroll down to learn the history of Israel from the time of the Ottoman Empire to the present:

The Ottoman Empire ruled the Middle East for approximately 400 years (1517 – 1918).

At its height, the Ottoman Empire included much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

After the Jewish exile, and prior to the rule of the Ottomans, the land was ruled by the Romans, Arabians, Crusaders, Saladin and the Mamluks.

Please scroll down to learn the history of Israel from the time of the Ottoman Empire to the present:

The Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire ruled the Middle East for approximately 400 years (1517 – 1918).

At its height, the Ottoman Empire included much of Southeast Europe, Western Asia and North Africa.

After the Jewish exile, and prior to the rule of the Ottomans, the land was ruled by the Romans, Arabians, Crusaders, Saladin and the Mamluks.

The End of World War I and the “Mandate System”

Map of The Middle East Mandates after World War I.

After its defeat by the Allied powers at the conclusion of World War I, the rule of the Ottoman Empire came to an end.

One of the main goals of the Allies was to grant independence and self-determination to those people who had been previously subject to the rule of the European empires. The mechanism used to accomplish this was the “Mandate System”. This system granted temporary stewardship to the Allies to govern those former colonies until that time that they could govern themselves. There were fourteen territorial Mandates in all, three of which were in the Middle East.

The Middle East Mandates were:

The territories now known as Syria and Lebanon were assigned to France.
The territory now known as Iraq was assigned to the British.
The remaining territories assigned to the British were the territories now known as Israel, Jordan, Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. the “West Bank”) and Gaza.

The End of World War I and the “Mandate System”

After its defeat by the Allied powers at the conclusion of World War I, the rule of the Ottoman Empire came to an end.

One of the main goals of the Allies was to grant independence and self-determination to those people who had been previously subject to the rule of the European empires. The mechanism used to accomplish this was the “Mandate System”. This system granted temporary stewardship to the Allies to govern those former colonies until that time that they could govern themselves. There were fourteen territorial Mandates in all, three of which were in the Middle East.

The Middle East Mandates were:

The territories now known as Syria and Lebanon were assigned to France.
The territory now known as Iraq was assigned to the British.
The remaining territories assigned to the British were the territories now known as Israel, Jordan, Judea and Samaria (a.k.a. the “West Bank”) and Gaza.

The British Mandate of Palestine

As a result of the Mandate System, more than ten million Arabs gained their freedom and right of self-determination. Additionally, millions of Arabs already enjoyed independence. They now had political rights and self-determination over more than 99% of the middle east in scores of countries.

A portion of the British Mandate, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people and where they had continually lived for centuries, was intended to be for the rebirth of the Jewish homeland; where the Jewish people could also enjoy political rights and self-determination.

The British Mandate in the Middle East was formally known as “The British Mandate of Palestine.” Palestine (originally “Philistia”), was a reference to the Philistines, who were of Greek origin. At the time of the Roman invasion of Israel, The Philistines occupied a small area on the eastern Mediterranean, including what is now called Gaza. The Romans renamed the entire region “Philistia” in an effort to erase any Jewish identity from the region.

The British Mandate of Palestine

As a result of the Mandate System, more than ten million Arabs gained their freedom and right of self-determination. Additionally, millions of Arabs already enjoyed independence. They now had political rights and self-determination over more than 99% of the middle east in scores of countries.

A portion of the British Mandate, the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people and where they had continually lived for centuries, was intended to be for the rebirth of the Jewish homeland; where the Jewish people could also enjoy political rights and self-determination.

The British Mandate in the Middle East was formally known as “The British Mandate of Palestine.” Palestine (originally “Philistia”), was a reference to the Philistines, who were of Greek origin. At the time of the Roman invasion of Israel, The Philistines occupied a small area on the eastern Mediterranean, including what is now called Gaza. The Romans renamed the entire region “Philistia” in an effort to erase any Jewish identity from the region.

The 1922 Partition

Map of The British Mandate of Palestine - 1922 Partition.

In 1922, the British Mandate of Palestine was formally partitioned. As an amendment to the British Mandate, the League of Nations, under the terms of the Transjordan memorandum, recognized the area east of the Jordan River as a state. This territory represented 77% of the original Mandate and covered an area between the Jordan River and the Iraqi desert.

In 1946, the Treaty of London was signed by the British and the Emir of Transjordan, recognizing Transjordan as an independent nation.

Transjordan is now known as the sovereign country of Jordan.

The 1922 Partition

In 1922, the British Mandate of Palestine was formally partitioned. As an amendment to the British Mandate, the League of Nations, under the terms of the Transjordan memorandum recognized the area east of the Jordan River as a state. This territory represented 77% of the original mandate and covered an area between the Jordan River and the Iraqi desert.

In 1946, the Treaty of London was signed by the British and the Emir of Transjordan recognizing Transjordan as an independent nation.

Transjordan is now known as the sovereign country of Jordan.

A Second Partition – 1947

Map of Israel - The 1948 War of Independence.

In the remaining portion of the Mandate, the Jewish focus was to build a viable economy with schools, hospitals and other institutions necessary for the well-being of its people. However, much of the Arab population was opposed to any Jewish presence in the area, and in the ensuing decades riots and revolts broke out.

In 1947, with no improvement in the situation, the British decided to refer the matter to the United Nations. The United Nations partitioned what was left of the original Mandate for a second time - into a smaller Jewish area and another Arab area.

Although left with only approximately 10% of the original Mandate, and with very limited natural resources, the Jewish response was generally positive. On May 14, 1948, a day after the British withdrew their forces from the region, the Jewish population declared themselves an independent state - Israel was reborn.

The Arab response, however, was not to accept any Jewish presence in the middle east at all. The combined armies of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and others attacked Israel in an attempt to annihilate the newly declared Jewish state and make the entire area another Arab state out of the British Mandate of Palestine. The Israeli War of Independence began.

A Second Partition – 1947

In the remaining portion of the Mandate, the Jewish focus was to build a viable economy with schools, hospitals and other institutions necessary for the well-being of its people. However, much of the Arab population was opposed to any Jewish presence in the area, and in the ensuing decades riots and revolts broke out.

In 1947, with no improvement in the situation, the British decided to refer the matter to the United Nations. The United Nations partitioned what was left of the original Mandate for a second time - into a smaller Jewish area and another Arab area.

Although left with only approximately 10% of the original Mandate, and with very limited natural resources, the Jewish response was generally positive. On May 14, 1948, a day after the British withdrew their forces from the region, the Jewish population declared themselves an independent state - Israel was reborn.

The Arab response, however, was not to accept any Jewish presence in the middle east at all. The combined armies of Egypt, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and others attacked Israel in an attempt to annihilate the newly declared Jewish state and make the entire area another Arab state from the British Mandate of Palestine. The Israeli War of Independence began.

The 1948 War and 1949 Cease Fire Lines

The six Arab armies invading Israel made their intentions clear… “It will be a war of annihilation. It will be a momentous massacre in history that will be talked about like the massacres of the Mongols or the Crusades.”

At the outset of the war, Israel was understandably ill equipped. With no cannons or tanks, and with an air force of only nine obsolete planes, Israel was defending itself on three fronts.

However, with memories of the Holocaust and centuries of persecution fresh in their minds, the Israeli fighting force managed to prevail on all fronts. Only when it became clear that the Arab states could not succeed in wiping out Israel’s existence, a cease fire was agreed to, and the war came to an end on March, 10, 1949. The cost however was enormous. Israel lost nearly one percent of its population and its economy was in shambles.

Israeli forces successfully defended the land it was allotted in the UN partition plan, and also managed to capture additional territory as well.

Egypt captured and controlled the Gaza Strip, and Jordan captured and controlled the West Bank. In 1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and all the Arab residents were given Jordanian citizenship.

The 1948 War and 1949 Cease Fire Lines

The six Arab armies invading Israel made their intentions clear… “It will be a war of annihilation. It will be a momentous massacre in history that will be talked about like the massacres of the Mongols or the Crusades.”

At the outset of the war, Israel was understandably ill equipped. With no cannons or tanks, and with an air force of only nine obsolete planes, Israel was defending itself on three fronts.

However, with memories of the Holocaust and centuries of persecution fresh in their minds, the Israeli fighting force managed to prevail on all fronts. Only when it became clear that the Arab states could not succeed in wiping out Israel’s existence, a cease fire was agreed to, and the war came to an end on March, 10, 1949. The cost however was enormous. Israel lost nearly one percent of its population and its economy was in shambles.

Israeli forces successfully defended the land it was allotted in the UN partition plan, and also managed to capture additional territory as well.

Egypt captured and controlled the Gaza Strip, and Jordan captured and controlled the West Bank. In 1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and all the Arab residents were given Jordanian citizenship.

The Six-Day (1967) War – Forward Movement of Arab Armies

Nineteen years later, still reeling from its defeat to Israel in 1948, and wanting to realize their ambition of “pushing the Jews into the sea,” on May 15, 1967, Egypt moved two of its military divisions into the Sinai Peninsula to the border with Israel. On May 16, 1967, Egypt expelled the UN peace keeping force, and a week later blockaded the Israeli port city of Eilat, which in itself, is an act of war.

Egypt, along with Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia amassed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of tanks on Israel’s northern, eastern and southern borders. Israel found itself surrounded by six enemy armies once again calling for Israel’s annihilation. The president of Egypt proclaimed that “Egypt will at long last wipe Israel off the face of the earth.”

The Six-Day (1967) War – Forward Movement of Arab Armies

Nineteen years later, still reeling from its defeat to Israel in 1948, and wanting to realize their ambition of “pushing the Jews into the sea,” on May 15, 1967, Egypt moved two of its military divisions into the Sinai Peninsula to the border with Israel. On May 16, 1967, Egypt expelled the UN peace keeping force, and a week later blockaded the Israeli port city of Eilat, which in itself, is an act of war.

Egypt, along with Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Saudi Arabia amassed hundreds of thousands of soldiers and thousands of tanks on Israel’s northern, eastern and southern borders. Israel found itself surrounded by six enemy armies once again calling for Israel’s annihilation. The president of Egypt proclaimed that “Egypt will at long last wipe Israel off the face of the earth.”

The Six-Day (1967) War - Cease Fire Lines

On June 5, 1967, realizing that it couldn’t survive a coordinated military attack from six Arab armies, Israel launched a pre-emptive military strike. Two hundred Israeli aircraft took off and attacked 18 Egyptian airfields destroying 90% of the Egyptian air force while they were still on the ground. Israel then turned its sights towards Jordan and Syria, destroying their air forces as well. With total air superiority, Israel launched a successful ground offensive on all three fronts. In six days of fighting, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria.

On June 11, 1967 a U.N. brokered cease fire took effect throughout all three combat zones, and the Six – Day War was at an end.

The Six-Day (1967) War - Cease Fire Lines

On June 5, 1967, realizing that it couldn’t survive a coordinated military attack from six Arab armies, Israel launched a pre-emptive military strike. Two hundred Israeli aircraft took off and attacked 18 Egyptian airfields destroying 90% of the Egyptian air force while they were still on the ground. Israel then turned its sights towards Jordan and Syria, destroying their air forces as well. With total air superiority, Israel launched a successful ground offensive on all three fronts. In six days of fighting, Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula and the Gaza Strip from Egypt, the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan, and the Golan Heights from Syria.

On June 11, 1967 a U.N. brokered cease fire took effect throughout all three combat zones, and the Six – Day War was at an end.

The Yom-Kippur (1973) War

On October 6, 1973, Yom Kippur Day (the holiest day of the Jewish year), Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise military attack against Israel in an to attempt to recover land lost in the 1967 war.

After fierce fighting on both fronts, on October 24, 1973, a regrouped Israeli army managed to advance to be within striking distance of Cairo and Damascus. The war ended when a cease-fire, proposed by the U.N. Security Council, was brokered by the United States and the Soviet Union.

The Yom-Kippur (1973) War

On October 6, 1973, Yom Kippur Day (the holiest day of the Jewish year), Egypt and Syria launched a coordinated surprise military attack against Israel in an to attempt to recover land lost in the 1967 war.

After fierce fighting on both fronts, on October 24, 1973, a regrouped Israeli army managed to advance to be within striking distance of Cairo and Damascus. The war ended when a cease-fire, proposed by the U.N. Security Council, was brokered by the United States and the Soviet Union.

Israel 2025

The current borders of Israel are one-third of those of the 1967 Cease Fire Lines.

The basic principle of Israel’s existence is to fulfill the Jewish people’s right of self-determination while living in peace with its neighbors.

To that end, on March 26, 1979, Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt, returning the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for the hope of normalized relations.

The cost of the treaty to Israel was significant. Homes, factories, hotels, health facilities, agricultural villages, military bases and airfields were abandoned, and Israel relinquished direct control of vital shipping lanes. The return of the Sinai also meant that Israel was giving up its chance to be energy independent by returning territories that were rich with oil reserves.

In August, 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip and North Samaria. Numerous military installations and scores of soldiers were removed. Additionally, over 9000 Israeli citizens were uprooted and were resettled in other parts of Israel.

Israel 2025

The current borders of Israel are one-third of those of the 1967 Cease Fire Lines.

The basic principle of Israel’s existence is to fulfill the Jewish people’s right of self-determination while living in peace with its neighbors.

To that end, on March 26, 1979, Israel signed a peace treaty with Egypt, returning the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for the hope of normalized relations.

The cost of the treaty to Israel was significant. Homes, factories, hotels, health facilities, agricultural villages, military bases and airfields were abandoned, and Israel relinquished direct control of vital shipping lanes. The return of the Sinai also meant that Israel was giving up its chance to be energy independent by returning territories that were rich with oil reserves.

In August, 2005, Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza Strip and North Samaria. Numerous military installations and scores of soldiers were removed. Additionally, over 9000 Israeli citizens were uprooted and were resettled in other parts of Israel.

Other Key Events Leading up to the Current Political Environment in Israel

Terrorism - Suicide bombings, Intifadas, Rocket attacks

Arab terrorism in Israel first started in the 1920s with waves of anti-Jewish riots. Throughout the last 100 years, Israel has consistently been the target of terror attacks - including plane hijackings, stabbings, shootings, bombings and rocket attacks.

Although Israel has returned the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and has withdrawn from the Gaza Strip, attacks and threats continue.

From the territories to the north, Hezbollah has fired thousands upon thousands of rockets into Israel. Just In the past couple of years, over 2,600 rockets and mortars have been fired into Israel.

In June, 2007 Hamas gained control of the Gaza Strip from the Palestinian Authority. Since then, more than 12,000 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israeli towns and villages, killing and injuring numerous and terrorizing the lives of tens of thousands of Israeli civilians.

The BDS Campaign (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions)

The BDS campaign calls for boycotts, divestments and sanctions against Israel. Its demands include that Israel withdraw to its pre-1967 borders, despite the fact multiple Arab attempts to destroy Israel were launched from within these territories. Perhaps most importantly, it also demands that Israel recognize that all descendants of Arabs living in Israel in 1947 have the "right to return" and live in Israel. This provision is a de facto demand for the end of Israel as the only majority Jewish state, and an end to Jewish self-determination anywhere in the world.

Jewish Refugees and Arab Refugees

In 1948, Israel was once again an independent nation. However, Israeli independence had dire consequences for the Jewish population in Arab countries. Anti-Jewish sentiment was rampant. Property was confiscated, bank accounts were frozen, severe anti-Jewish riots erupted, and pogroms led to the death of many Jews. As a result, about 1,000,000 Jews fled Arab countries, with approximately 800,000 settling in Israel. Israel absorbed all of these Jewish refugees.

In 1947, when the Arabs rejected the UN partition plan, five Arab armies attacked Israel and approximately 700,000 Arabs fled. Some fled because they didn’t want to be in harm’s way, others were urged to flee by the invading Arab armies, who promised to let them return once the expected victory over Israel had been achieved. Arab countries have not absorbed the Arab refugees, thus creating the “Arab Refugee Problem.”

Current Demographics

With less than 1% of the land in the Middle East, Israel is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.

Israel is 17 times more densely populated than the combined 22 Arab countries in the Middle East. This is not because the number of people in Israel is so numerous, it’s because the country is so small.

The British Mandate was partitioned twice, leaving Israel with approximately 10% of original Mandate.

Additionally, Israel has absorbed over 800,000 Jews from Arab countries, approximately 200,000 Jews from Europe, and over 1,000,000 from the former Soviet Union. This was due to unbearable anti-Semitic conditions.

There are 22 countries in the Middle East with an Arab Muslim majority, and 48 countries worldwide with a Muslim majority. There is 1 country with a Jewish majority.

Israel Grants Religious Freedom to All

Israel grants freedom to all, regardless of one’s religious affiliation.

As stated in Israel’s Declaration of Independence, Israel “will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions.” This is in contrast to the time when Jordan controlled these sites between 1949 and 1967 when Israelis were forbidden to enter East Jerusalem.

All Israeli citizens have the right to vote and can run for any political office.

Israel grants access to holy sites to people of all faiths.

Secure and Viable Borders

The right to live in peace within secure, defensible, and viable borders is a requisite to the security and existence of any nation.

This notion is particularly relevant for Israel since a significant portion of the Arab world contests Israel’s right to exist at all. Iran in the east, Hamas in the west, and Hezbollah in the north all have openly vowed to destroy Israel.

Underscoring this view is that eleven Arab countries (Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Brunei and Yemen) do not even recognize the right of the State of Israel to exist at all. Six of these countries are so adamant in their beliefs that they will not accept any visitor to their country with evidence of travel to Israel.

At the root of this position is the view of not recognizing any Israeli rights in any part of the Middle-east. Unfortunately, these views are taught in many schools in much of the Arab world.

However, on a positive note, in parts of the Arab world attitudes are changing. In 2020, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco entered into agreements with Israel (collectively known as the “Abraham Accords”). The parties to the Abraham Accords recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East based upon mutual understanding and coexistence. The parties have agreed to take steps necessary to normalize diplomatic and economic ties.

2023 -2024 Israel Attacked on Multiple Fronts

In the early morning hours of October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack against Israel by land, air and sea. Thousands of armed terrorists breached Israeli border fences at various locations. At the same time, armed terrorists using paragliders and boats invaded Israel. In addition, thousands of missiles were launched into Israel from Gaza.

Israeli civilian communities as well as military and police facilities were targeted. More than 1200 Israeli civilians were either gunned down or tortured and killed in their homes. Approximately 240 hostages were taken into Gaza. In the first year of the conflict, more than 26,000 rockets, missiles and drones have been fired into civilian neighborhoods in Israel.

Since Hamas fires it rockets from densely populated civilian areas within Gaza, Israel's response has been slow and measured in order to reduce civilian casualties. This has been an even more difficult task since Egypt and other Arab countries are unwilling to take in any Palestinians.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is controlled by Hamas, there have been more than 41,000 combatant and civilian casualties in Gaza as of October 7, 2024.

Since the start of the conflict, Israel has been attacked on seven fronts.